When atomic carbon is condensed on a surface at 77 K containing ammonia and water, glycine, N-methylglycine, alanine, beta-alanine, aspartic acid and serine are generated. It is postulated that these reactions may mimic those which occur when an extraterrestrial carbon atom condenses on a frozen surface coated with water and ammonia and may provide a route to extraterrestrial amino acids. Experiments designed to elucidate the mechanisms of amino acid formation under these conditions have been carried out.

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